James Baldwin.

NSW State Minor Billiards Champion, 2011.

James Baldwin became the only
person in the history of Belmont 16’ Sailing’s Snooker & Billiards Club to
win a State Title when he won the final of the NSW State Minor Billiards Championship
at Club Toukley R.S.L. yesterday.

He is now just the third
Newcastle player ever to win this event, the other winners being none other
than the legendary Eddy Charlton, and Paul Melmeth, who played for Adamstown Club.

The solid silver perpetual
trophy, which dates from 1956, is engraved with some very famous names indeed, and
is now proudly on display in the club’s trophy cabinet. It will also bear the
name of James Baldwin for all time.

James capped off a very
successful year after winning the club championship in Billiards, Snooker, and
Snooker Doubles.

He also scored the tournament
highest break in the final, against a tough and seasoned opponent in Alan
Muscio from Penrith. The gruelling match finished when both players seemed to
be exhausted. Both players were unable to take advantage of his opponent’s
mistakes late in the game, which were caused by their obvious fatigue.

Some anxious supporters believed
Alan might have been able to take advantage of the situation and overtake
James’ lead, which was reduced to just 14 points late in the game, but James
kept firing in some of the best in-offs you will ever see, combined with some
very deadly long range potting.

James established a solid lead
early and was mostly 50 or so in front. Alan Muscio kept getting dangerously close
with some absolutely brilliant sequences of top of the table, and several
series of losing hazard play. Against any other opponent, Alan Muscio would
have won, so he lost no credibility, and kept the audience enthralled.  James could not be daunted, and with an
impeccable temperament, kept turning the scoreboard relentlessly with some
unbelievable play at times.

No doubt there will be some
spectators getting to their club tables today to try to emulate some of the
spectacular “long Jennies” and recovery shots he was forced to play, by a very
clever and capable runner-up.

James also defeated Andy De Haan
in his semi final while Alan defeated Roger Dalitz in the other semi final.
Roger came all the way from Albury, and without his illustrious sons, so we
thank Roger for making the long journey alone. Andy De Haan looked a likely
threat going into the semis, but he couldn’t reproduce his excellent form in
beating the very good Grant Schubert in his Quarter Final. Notable performances
came from the veterans Keith Taylor and Len Wicks.

Newcastle players all performed
well, with John Ring defeating Grant Schubert, and after literally losing his
first match on the bell, he only narrowly lost his other 2 matches. Other
Newcastle Players should well be encouraged to participate in next year’s
event.  Central Coast supplied 4 players,
along with 3 from Hornsby. Craig Mills from the Mid North Coast, and Gene
Crossingham from Wollongong also participated.

Celebrity referee Joe Tonon made his
usual cameo appearance when he refereed a Quarter Final after apparently calling
in on several clubs on his way to Sydney, offering his services. Great stuff,
Joe.